Wire-fence stretcher.



110.895,882. v -PATENTED 8118.11, 1808."

" W. HOPPER.

WIRE 1181188 8118811011811.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1908.

1 19' 10 ,8M- A,8a 16" 11- A W/TNESSES l N VE N T0 UNITED sTATns PATENT omnes.

i WLLIAM HOPPER, OF JEFFERSON, IOWA.

WIRE-FENCE STRE'ICI-IER.

Application led January 20, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOPPER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jefferson, in the county of Greene and State of-lowa, have invented a new and Improved Wire-Fence Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact tion.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for stretching wire fences while the wire is being secured to the fence post, and more particularly to that type of stretcher in which a clamping mechanism 1s employed in connection with clamping means, whereby the latter isl prevented from becoming disengaged during the stretching action.

The invention consists in the provision of a lever, to one end of which the tension means is secured, and so disposed that the movement of the lever tends to tighten the clamping means.

Reference is to be had to the acompanying drawin s, forming a part of this specification, in whic similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism for gripping the wire fencing; and Fi 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the mec anism shown in Fig. 2.

The specific form of stretcher illustrated in the accompanying drawings involves in its construction a clamping or gripping mechanism adapted to engage with the fencin and mechanism ada ted for engagement wit a fence post for applying tension to the fencing and bracingl the post atthe same time. The clamping or gripping mechanism includes two clamping bars 10 and 11, each of slightly greater length than the height ofthe fencing and adapted to engage with opposite sides of the fencing to hold the latter between said clamping bars or members. The engaging surfaces of the two members are preferably so formed as to effectively bind the fencing in position. For instance, the bar 11 may be provided with a groove extending longitudinally thereof, and the bar 10 may be provided with a longitudinallyextending flange or projection 12 adapted to enter this recess or groove. Secured to the descripclamping bar 11 are a plurality of bracket Specfcaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 411,639.

face of the bar 11 opposite to the groove and extends across one side of the bar and terminates in an eye or loop 14, The outer ends of the bracketarms are connected together by a vertically-disposed rod 15, which also serves as a pivot for a lever frame hereinafter described. The clamping bar 10 carries a plurality of lever arms 16, disposed adjacent the bracket arms 13, and each arm 16 is so formed that when the outer end thereof is adjacent the end of the corres onding bracket arm, the two clamping mem ers will be pressed tightly together. Each lever arm lterminates at one side of the clamping bar 10 in a pin 17, adapted to extend through the eye 1-4 of the corresponding bracket arm 13.

Mounted on the rod 15, is a lever frame, including two vertically-disposed bars 18 and 19, connected together by a plurality of transverse bars 20, the central portion of each of which is pivoted on the rod 15. The means for ap lying tension to the fence preferably inclbdes a chain 21, and this chain is connected to the bar 18 of the lever arm. The frame when moved to a position at substantially right angles to the bracket arms 13, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, permits of a movement of the lever arms 16 and the removal of the clamping bar 10 from the clamping bar 11. After the wire fencing is brought into engagement with the clamping bar 11 and the clamping bar 10 is placed in position by inserting the pins 17 through the eyes 14, the lever arms 16 are moved to grip the fencing between t-he clamping bars and the lever frame is straightened to a posiion in substantial alinement with the bracket arms 13. The bar 19 of the frame then engages with the lower arm 16 and positively prevents the separationof the clamping bars while the tension is being applied to stretch the fencing. The means for applying this tension preferably includes two horizontally-disposed supports 22 and 23, each having one end thereof curved to adapt it to engage with a fence post 24, and having the opposile end thereof adapted to receive a vertically-disposed shaft 25, around which the chain 21 may be wound. The lower support 23, together with a transverse member 26, form a base for supporting the lower end of the shaft, and also for retaining the tension-applying means in an upright position. The upper support 22 is preferably provided with a bracket 27 hinged thereto and adapted to engage with the lower support 23 for holding the upper one at the desired elevation adjacent the post, and also has pivoted thereto two iron braces 28, the lower ends of which are adapted for insertion in suitable eyelets at the outer ends of the base member' 26. For rotating the shaft 25, a suitable hinge member 29 is secured to the upper end thereof, said hinge member having suitable handles 30 extending therefrom in opposite directions.

For bracing the post during the stretching action, I provide a suitable detachable brace, including a diagonal bar 31, having its upper end adapted to engage wih the post adjacent the top thereof and having its lower end adapted to engage with a cleat 32 on a baseboard 33 spaced a short disiance from -the post. In applying the bracing means, the base 33 is placed in position at a short distance from the post and the brace bar 3l placed with one end against the cleat 32 and the other end against the post. A rope, chain or cable 34 is secured to one end of Vthe cleat 32 and is then passed around the base of the post and secured to the opposite end of the cleat. rl`he brace 31 is then placed against the cleat and 'the post, and pressed down un'fil the cable is as 'i autas possible.

It is thought the operation of the device will be sufficiently evident from the above descri tion, but in brief, it may be stated that t e tension-applying means is assembled and placed in position as illustrated in Fig. l, and adjacent the post in advance of the one to which it is desired to fasten the fencing. The post unless it be provided with terminal bracing, is braced by the diagonal bracing illustrated and the clamp secured to the fencing. Upon the rotation of the shaft, the fencing may be drawn as tightly as desired and firmly secured to the post preceding the one to which the tension is applied. The clamp is then unfastened and secured to the fencing at a ,point farther along the length thereof, and the tension-applying means removed to the next succeeding post. Preferably, two sets of the diagonal bracing fence post, a clamping means adapted to en-A gage with the fencing, and flexible connections between said tension-applying means and said clamping means, said clamping means comprising two clamping members adapted to engage with opposite sides of the fencing to hold the latter therebetween, a bracket arm carried by one of saidclamping members, a lever arm carried by the other of said members, and means for connecting said iiexible connections andsaid clamping means, including a member pivoted to said bracket arm and in engagement with said lever arm` for holding the clamping members in engagement during the stretching action.

2. A fence-stretcher, including two clamping members adapted to engage with opposite sides of the fencing, a bracket arm can ried by one of said'members, a lever arm carrie'd by the other of said members, and a lever pivoted to said bracket arm and in engagement with said lever arm, and means in engagement with said lever for a plying tension to the fencing and locking t 1e clamping members in engagement with each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM HOPPER.

Witnesses:

HARRY HARDING, GEORGE W. JACKSON. 

